Shops cannot exist to only service products and handle warranties on items they never sold.

Disagree - they absolutely can. Why? because it's a service for which people are willing to pay. how many shops we'd have is another question ...

It's not viable, it would dramatically decrease the urban saturation of bike shops, and make bike shops in non-urban situations practically unfeasible. Bike shops, sure, they can pay shop staff sallaries out of servicing costs, but the big overheads - shop rental, marketing, utilities costs and all of that could not be supported on a service only basis. Support your shops.

_________________This board would be a nicer place if everyone would take themselves less seriously.

BUT - it is likely to be the bare minimum legally required. The consumer will be liable for all costs associated with the warranty like carriage to and from the manufacturer, labour to remove & refit the parts. And you can bet your arse that it the shop will not stretch the rules for you as they have no incentive to do so. You didn't buy it from a shop, because you wanted to bypass the retailer to save a few quid. The chances of you remembering their help when your next purchase comes along are slim at best.
Many premium brands are id'ing their production, so that they can track where they sent said part and whether it was intended for resale or manufacturer use. That is their right. Specialized & Trek don't undermine LBS's by doing this and they could take advantage of prices that PF can only dream of. Why? Because every dealer would drop them like a stone.
I will not stock certain brands for that very reason. Why should I invest in stock that I am unlikely to make anything on, because people only come to look and ask questions about it before going on line to save 10%?
That's why WW shops are few and far between. At this rate they'll be gone forever.

I get the sense that a number of the posters here defend the rights of the manufacturers to limit "grey" imports as, quite rightly, the bike shops/retailers do need to be protected and supported to sustain their business model, and hence fix my expensive bike each time I do something stupid.

However, I believe there is an argument to prevent consumers being ripped off... retailers, wholesalers and even manufacturers charge the prices they do because they can, and are happy to gouge consumers in markets which have higher incomes and more disposable income..there was a test case 4 or 5 years ago in the UK where a major retailer wanted to import Levis jeans from the far East as they could offer them half or less of the UK rrp, much to Levis dislike, and Im pretty sure that there was some subsequent EU "guidelines" to ensure retailers were forbidden from selling below RRP in similar circumstances....

"Group Buys" like the Pedal Force at least can serve to keep the standard supply chain honest and efficient.

But having said that, go out and support your LBS!

_________________"...when they pulled her from the wreck you know she still had on her shades..."

If I buy a new wheel from the wrong outfit, I get no warranty? If it's factory new and indeed original, that's complete and utter BS.

If I pay too much for a factory new wheel, do I get a longer warranty? Of course not. If I buy from the wrong outfit, the warranty gets pulled?! One-sided warranty programs steam me (and I'm not even talking about the infamous fine print that exonerates the manufacturer from just about anything).

If I buy a new wheel from the wrong outfit, I get no warranty? If it's factory new and indeed original, that's complete and utter BS.

If I pay too much for a factory new wheel, do I get a longer warranty? Of course not. If I buy from the wrong outfit, the warranty gets pulled?! One-sided warranty programs steam me (and I'm not even talking about the infamous fine print that exonerates the manufacturer from just about anything).

[My comments are not manufacturer-specific.]

No not quite.
Your warranty is the responsibility of the outfit you bought it from (at least in th UK it is under the Sale of Goods Act).

This means that if there is a problem you have redress via that channel. If you choose to try your local stockist, he is under no obligation to you whatsoever. I've had numerous "customers" check out the latest bling in store and next time we see them they have said item on their bike. when you enquire where they ended up getting it, they utter the magic mantra "online, way cheaper". Only problem is that they rarely ever ask if you can do a better price. Price is important, I know. But there is value in paying more - if there is a problem 13 months on. Bought online - 12 months and that's it. Bought on the high st and that 13 months is 11 months. Because there is a positive rapport.

Shops cannot exist to only service products and handle warranties on items they never sold.

Disagree - they absolutely can. Why? because it's a service for which people are willing to pay. how many shops we'd have is another question ...

what you say can't exist is all around us with many other sectors ... car mechanics anyone?

The difference is that modern cars are designed to be serviced ONLY by a qualified/equipped garage (which is a bit of a scam IMHO), where as older cars were to some extent user-serviceable in a straightforward manner. Bikes are very much easily user-serviceable unless you are a total muppet, so the servicing doesn't happen in the same way.
This is why I service all my own bikes and my 15 year-old BMW E30 touring myself

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